Vehicle identification apparatus

ABSTRACT

1. A VEHICLE RECORDING APPARATUS ADAPTED TO BE FIXED TO A PART OF A VEHICLE OR OTHER TYPE OF MACHINERY, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A GENERALLY PRISMATIC BRACKET ELEMENT HAVING ONE END ADAPTED TO BE AFFIXED TO THE VEHICLE OR OTHER MACHINERY, A GENERALLY PRISMATIC COVER ELEMENT REMOVABLY AND CONFORMABLY ENGAGED OVER SAID BRACKET ELEMENT AND FABRICATED OF IMPRINTABLE MATERIAL TO BE IMPRINTED ON AT LEAST ONE OF ITS FACES WITH VEHICLE INDENTIFYING INDICIA, SAID COVER ELEMENT HAVING OUTER EDGES AND INTERMEDIATE PRIMATIC FACES, AND BRACKET AND COVER ELEMENTS BEING FORMED WITH RESPECTIVE ALIGNED OPENINGS, IN A SEAL COMPRISING A FLAT ELONGATED STRAP HAVING A HEAD PORTION ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED THROUGH THE ALIGNED OPENINGS IN SAID BRACKET AND COVER ELEMENTS AND THEN TO BE ENGAGED WITH THE ADJACENT INSIDE WALL OF SAID BRACKET ELEMENT, SAID STRAP IN ITS ENGAGED POSITION EXTENDING ABOUT THE EXTERNAL SURFACE OF THE COVER ELEMENT, SAID STRAP HAVING TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING SERRATIONS SPACED TO OVERLIE THE OUTER EDGES OF THE PRISMATIC COVER ELEMENT, THE STRAP BEING ADAPTED TO BE SEALED TO ITSELF AFTER ENCIRCLING THE COVER ELEMENT.   D R A W I N G

United States Patent 1191 Sternberg Oct. 8, 1974 VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION APPARATUS Assistant ExaminerWenceslao J. Contreras [75] Inventor: Herbert Stemberg New York Attorney, Agent, or Firm-S. Delvalle Goldsmith et al.'

[73] Assignee: Autornated lle frenc Corporation, [57] ABSTRACT New York Recording apparatus for affixing registration and other [22] Filed: May 10, 1972 A data to the body of an automobile. There is a removable cover element for said data affixed to a bracket [21] Appl' 252066 element with a seal passing through aligned openings in said elements. The seal comprises a flat strap having [52] U.S. Cl. 40/2.2, 40/10 A a head p r ion pted to be in erted through the g [51] Int. Cl. G09t 3/02 aligned openings in said bracket and cover elements [58] Field of Search 40/2.2, l0, 19; 292/307 and then to be engaged with the adjacent inside wall of said bracket element, said strap in its engaged posi- [56] References Cited tion extending about the external surface of the cover UNITED STATES PATENTS element, said strap having transversely extending ser- 1 637 542 8/1927 wood 7 40,10 A rations spaced to overlie the outer edgesof the pris 5 6/1930 Bea matic cover element, the strap being adapted to be 2:973:596 3/1961 sealed to itself after encircling the cover element. 3,006,092 10/1961 Sternberg.... L 3,4l6,247 12/1968 Stemberg 40 2.2 6 Clams 5 D'awmg F'gures Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION APPARATUS This invention relates to a novel system for permanently recording the history of a vehicle or other type of apparatus. More particularly, the invention is especially concerned with apparatus providing a permanent record of information identifying the vehicle or other type of machinery.

This invention is an improvement over the inventions disclosed and claimed in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,973,596, 3,006,092 and 3,416,247.

As is known from the aforementioned patents, the apparatus for providing the permanent information record generally includes a bracket adapted to be fixed to and project from a part of the vehicle or machinery, a cover removablyengaged over the bracket and fabricated of imprintable material capable of being imprinted with identifying indicia, and a seal element to prevent tampering or removal of the cover from the bracket.

In accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,247 a sealing device in the form of a flat metal strip is provided, wherein an eye portion of the metal strap is hooked to the end of an interiorly projecting tongue within the bracket member adjacent a hole in said member, which hole is aligned with a corresponding hole in the outer cover member. Said strap is then encircled around itself and sealed to itself with a one-time seal element, such as matching male and female snap elements. The seal is either wrapped around the outer surface of the cover element so as to be approximately flush therewith or is contained in an undercut recessed portion 50 as to lie below the outer surface of the outer shell.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a seal element for such identification apparatus in which said seal element can lie closely flush to the outer surface of the cover member, including the edges intermediate the panel portions of the prismatic cover member, without a corresponding recessed portion in said cover member. It is also an object of the invention to provide a seal element which is readily inserted in the aligned holes in the cover and bracket elements without having to hook the seal element around a special element in the interior of the apparatus. It is also desired to mini.- mize the cost of fabricating such a seal element as well as the interior bracket element.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawing which forms part of the present disclosure, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a specific embodiment of recording apparatus according to the present invention as assembled and installed in a vehicle or other type of machinery;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the bracket and cover separated from each other with a different perpsective from FIG. 1 to show the end which is fastened to the wall of the vehicle, and showing the sea] element of the invention prior to insertion, as well as a suitable fastener for attaching the bracket element to the wall of the vehicle, and with a portion of the cover element cut away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along section line III--lII of FIG. 1 and showing the seal element in sealed condition, and with the thickness of the snap elements; of the seal element exaggerated for the sake of illustration;

FIG. 4 is a plan or exterior view of the seal element; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the seal element as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a structural part of a vehicle, namely fire wall 12, which separates the engine compartment from the drivers compartment of an automobile, to which is affixed the bracket element 14 having mounted thereon cover element 16. Bracket element 14 is about 3 inches long and cover element 16 is about 5 inches long. The bracket element 14 is affixed to the fire wall 12 by a blind fastener comprising an expandible portion 17 and a screw portion 18, which, as known in the art, will cause expansion of the expandible portion 17 after screw portion 18 has been inserted and screwed into the interior in bore of expandible portion 17. The face 20 of bracket 14 contacting the fire wall 12 has a recessed annular portion 22 for receiving a neoprene rubber washer or gasket 24.

The ring or gasket 24 has a thickness greater than that of recessed annular portion 22 of bracket 14. In this way, bracket 14 becomes spaced from the fire wall 12 and can be rotated so as to provide for more ready inspection of the cover element 16 as sealed to the bracket element 14. The head portion 26 of expandible portion 17 is of a self-tapping variety. Instead of the blind fastener with parts 17 and 18, the bracket element 14 could be rotatably mountedto a back plate which is welded to the fire wall 12, for example, as shown in U.S. Pat. No- 2,973,596.

Bracket element 14 and cover 16 are of prismatic shape, each with an odd number of flat faces 26 and 28, respectively, specifically seven. The outer faces 28 of cover 16 are, substantially perfectly smooth-and join at edge portions 30. The substantially smooth outer faces 26 of bracket element 14 meet at edges 32. However, as is further described in my copending application Ser. No. 252,065, filedvsimultaneously herewith, inner displaced sliding surfaces or ribs 33, 34, 36, 38 of the same or varying cross-section are provided in cover element 16, said inner ribs optionally having varying lengths to meet in close engagement with matching indented portions 40, 42, 43, etc., of bracket 14, so as to make it difficult to counterfeit covers 16 suitable for mounting on brackets 14. Said indented portions generally commence at locations spaced inwardly from the outer end of cover. element 16. With a typical wall thickness of 0.030 inches for both the cover 16 and bracket 14, the clearance between the matching sliding surfaces 33 34, 36, 38 and the indented portions 40, 42, 43, etc., is 0.0010 or 0.0005 inches whereas there is a minimum clearance of 0.015 inches between the flat surfaces 26 of bracket element 14 and the inner flat surfaces 44 of cover 16.

As further described in my above-mentioned application, electronic indenting of the cover element 16 is used to provide the information on said cover element concemingthe engine number and other identifying data for the vehicle or other apparatus. The indenting process causes a displacement of metal inwardly. Therefore, greater clearance is required between the opposing flat surfaces of the cover and bracket elements, respectively, than in the case of my prior patents in which an embossing member is used to imprint the identifying data on the cover element, said embossed figures projecting outwardly from the surface of the cover element.

A seal 50 in the form of an elongated flat metal strip is provided to pass through aligned rectangular holes 52 and 54 in cover element 16 and bracket element 14, respectively. The long dimensions or lengths of holes 52 and 54 extend transversely of bracket 14 and cover 16. The width of seal 50 is less than the length of aligned holes 52 and 54. Typically, seal 50 is 3 $4 inch long and three-eighths of an inch wide whereas holes 52 and 54 are about seven-sixteenths inches long and about five thirty-seconds inches wide. The thickness of seal 50 is about 0.0040 inches. The seal 50 has a head portion 56, which is separated from the remainder of the elongated strip by a neck portion 58 of reduced width of about one-eighth inch. However, the length of said neck portion, viz., about five thirty-seconds inch, is greater than the assembled thicknesses of the walls of cover element 16 and bracket element 14 when assembled together. The head portion 56 of seal 50 can then be inserted through the aligned holes 52 and 54 and then rotated clockwise about its longitudinal axis 90 as shown inF'fG flwhereby sfidhad EdFtToTGG becomes engaged with the interior wall of bracket element 14, as shown in FIG. 3.

Longitudinally spaced on sea] 50 are transversely extending serrations 60, which are so spaced as to overlie the outer edges 30 of cover 16. These serrations extend about one-half the thickness of the strip 50 and permit the strip to lie closely adjacent all of the outer faces 28 of cover 16 and thus to obviate the need for a recessed portion in the cover element and yet have the seal 50 substantially flush with the outer surface of cover 16. Preferably the serrations 60 face the outer surfaces of cover 16.

Male snap element 62 and female snap element 64, similar to those shown in US. Pat. No. 3,416,247, are arranged on seal 50, facing opposite sides of the seal 50, so that the strap in its engaged position, as shown in FIG. 3, can extend about the complete circumference of cover element 16 with said strap overlapping where male element 62 engages female snap element 64 so as to complete the seal. As described in US. Pat. No. 3,416,247, the male element 62 has rearwardly extending barbs which are received within the inwardly extending hole in female receptacle 64. After such engagement, any attempt to separate the snap elements 62 and 64 results in a destruction of the snap elements, thereby providing an indication of any tampering with the seal. Other one-time male and female snap elements could be used.

It will be seen that the above seal 50 possesses an advantage over the type of seal shown in US. Pat. No.

3,416,247 in that the seal 50 of the present invention merely requires insertion of the head portion 56 into the aligned holes 52 and 54 without the difficulties associated with looping an eye portion of such a seal around an inwardly extending tongue in the bracket member. Furthermore, the secured position of the seal 50 with respect to the outer cover 16 is predictable with improved certainty since the inner transversely edge 64 of head portion 56 comes into firm contact with the inner prismatic wall of bracket 14. In this way the proper alignment of the serrations 60 with the edges 30 of the cover element 28 can be provided. for, especially in view of the close fit betweenthe edges 32 of bracket 16 and the interior edges of cover 16, as further aided by matching sliding portions 33, 34, 36, 38 with sliding portions 40, 42, 43, etc. The bracket 14 and cover 16 elements are made of metal, preferably aluminum alloy (HOG-F). The'seal is made of flexible metal strip material. The cover and bracket elements are conveniently produced by impact extrusion techniques.

I claim:

1. A vehicle recording apparatus adapted to be fixed to a part of a vehicle or other type of machinery, said apparatus comprising a generally prismatic bracket element having one end adapted to be affixed to the vehicle or other machinery, a generally prismatic cover element removably and conformably engaged over said bracket element and fabricated of imprintable material to be imprinted on at least one of its faces with vehicle identifying indicia, said cover element having outer edges and intermediate prismatic faces, said bracket and cover elements being formed with respective aligned openings, and a seal comprising a flat elongated strap having a head portion adapted to be inserted through the aligned openings in said bracket and cover elements and then to be engaged with the adjacent inside wall of said bracket element, said strap in its engaged position extending about the external surface of the cover element, said strap having transversely extending serrations spaced to overlie the outer edges of the prismatic cover element, the strap being adapted to be sealed to itself after encircling the cover element.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the serrations are on the side of the strap facing the cover element.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the serrations are approximately one-half the thickness of the strap.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, which comprises complementary male and female snap elements on the opposite sides of the strap adapted for locking engagement with each other so as to seal the strap to itself.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head portion of the strap isseparated from the remainder of the strap by a neck portion of reduced width, the aligned openings of the bracket and cover elements being elongated in a transverse direction relative to said elements and having lengths exceeding the width of said head portion of said strap and having widths greater than the width of said neck portion of said strap but less than the width of said head portion of said strap, the length of said neck portion being sufficient to permit rotation of the strap after insertion of said head portion through the aligned openings, whereby one end of said strap is engaged within said bracket element.

6. A vehicle recording apparatus adapted to be fixed to a part of a vehicle or other type of machinery, said apparatus comprising a generally prismatic bracket element having one end adapted to be afiixed to the vehicle or other machinery, a generally prismatic cover element removably and conformably engaged over said bracket element and fabricated of imprintable material to be imprinted on its faces with vehicle identifying indicia, said cover element having outer edges and intermediate prismatic faces, said bracket and cover elements being formed with respective aligned openings, and a seal comprising a flat metal strip having at one end a head. portion and an adjacent neck portion of reduced width as compared to the head portion, the

aligned openings of the bracket and cover elements being elongated in a transverse direction relative to said bracket and cover elements and having lengths exceeding the width of said head portion of said strap and having widths greater than the width of said neck portion of said strap but less than the width of said head portion of said strap, the length of said neck portion being sufficient to permit rotation of the strap 90 after said straps to itself in said encircled position. 

